Published: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 11:57 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 3:46 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE | In a twist on Florida's usual gun control debate, the nation's pre-eminent gun rights group is defending a bill aimed at keeping firearms from some people with mental illness.

The National Rifle Association is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a measure overwhelmingly approved this spring by state lawmakers that would expand the definition of mentally ill Floridians prohibited from buying a gun or obtaining a concealed weapons permit.

That puts the NRA, which helped write the bill and shepherd it through the Legislature, in the rare position of criticizing — and being attacked by — another gun rights group.

Scott's office has received nearly 20,000 emails and phone calls urging him to veto the bill on the gounds that it infringes on gun ownership rights.

“Please veto HB 1355 and stand up for our rights to keep and bear arms,” Ronald Roosa, a Citrus County man, told Scott in an email last week.

Marion Hammer, a former NRA president who helped write the bill, dismissed the criticism as coming from a “fringe group,” saying the bill's intentions and impacts were being distorted.

“It's not anti-Second Amendment,” Hammer said. “It closes a gap in the system that prevents dangerous people with mental illnesses from being able to buy guns until they've had treatment and are cured.”

Scott has until July 2 to act on the bill, though he could make a decision sooner. His office has not said how he will act.

Hammer indicated which way she thinks he will turn.

“I think it would be very difficult for the governor to veto a bill that will keep guns out of the hands of people who are known to be mentally ill and who are known to be a danger to themselves or others,” she said.

By mid-week, the emails, phone calls and letters to Scott overwhelmingly opposed the bill. His office had received 17,008 emails in opposition, with one in support and another unclassified. There were 2,711 phone calls in opposition, with 12 in support, and one letter in opposition.

Most of the messages were blunt.

“This is just another attack on the honest law-abiding person who may choose to own a firearm,” wrote David Reisner of Lee County.

Others saw political implications in Scott's decision.

“Remember, Gov. Scott, you are up for re-election,” wrote Betty and Elmer Henry of Lake County. “The many gun owners in Florida do not agree with this bill and will vote accordingly.”

The bill was the only gun measure to pass the Legislature during its two-month session following the Newtown, Conn., elementary school massacre last December. Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, cast the only negative vote among the 160 House and Senate members.

Opposition is being generated by a Colorado-based group called the National Association for Gun Rights, which has been critical of the NRA and Scott before.

Last year, the group harshly criticized Scott for creating a task force to review Florida's “Stand Your Ground” law after the shooting of Trayvon Martin in Central Florida. The group told its members that Scott was “selling out your rights by convening an anti-gun task force.”

The task force, headed by form Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, recommended no changes in the law.

The group did not return a call seeking comment.

Hammer said National Association for Gun Rights in multiple email “blasts” is spreading false information about the bill.

“They try to capitalize on the NRA's popularity and they try to discredit and attack us to raise money,” she said.

Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, and Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, the bill would expand the definition of mentally ill Floridians who would be prohibited from buying a gun or obtaining a concealed weapons permit.

Existing law limits the restrictions to those detained under the state's Baker Act and then involuntarily committed to mental health facilities for further treatment. The bill expands it to include Floridians detained under the act but who are then voluntarily placed in mental health treatment.

It would only apply those deemed an “imminent danger” to themselves or others, with the right to legally challenge the determination.

Proponents, including law enforcement and mental health advocates, as well as the NRA, say the measure is critical because most Floridians detained under the Baker Act end up in voluntary programs, evading the current restriction against gun purchases.

It would also place those mentally ill Floridians deemed a threat to others in a federal database — the National Instant Criminal Background Check System — that can be accessed by firearms dealers.

Hammer said the legislation was written by a coalition of groups, including Judge Steven Leifman, head of the Florida Supreme Court's Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues, and law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“We worked with pretty much everybody,” she said.

Hammer's message to her Florida supporters this week said “false information is being circulated about HB 1355 by people who don't have a clue what the bill actually does or why it is needed.”

“Gun owners are being deceived by reckless people who are sending out email blasts attacking the bill as being anti-Second Amendment,” she wrote.

<p>TALLAHASSEE | In a twist on Florida's usual gun control debate, the nation's pre-eminent gun rights group is defending a bill aimed at keeping firearms from some people with mental illness.</p><p>The National Rifle Association is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a measure overwhelmingly approved this spring by state lawmakers that would expand the definition of mentally ill Floridians prohibited from buying a gun or obtaining a concealed weapons permit.</p><p>That puts the NRA, which helped write the bill and shepherd it through the Legislature, in the rare position of criticizing — and being attacked by — another gun rights group.</p><p>Scott's office has received nearly 20,000 emails and phone calls urging him to veto the bill on the gounds that it infringes on gun ownership rights.</p><p>“Please veto HB 1355 and stand up for our rights to keep and bear arms,” Ronald Roosa, a Citrus County man, told Scott in an email last week.</p><p>Marion Hammer, a former NRA president who helped write the bill, dismissed the criticism as coming from a “fringe group,” saying the bill's intentions and impacts were being distorted.</p><p>“It's not anti-Second Amendment,” Hammer said. “It closes a gap in the system that prevents dangerous people with mental illnesses from being able to buy guns until they've had treatment and are cured.”</p><p>Scott has until July 2 to act on the bill, though he could make a decision sooner. His office has not said how he will act.</p><p>Hammer indicated which way she thinks he will turn.</p><p>“I think it would be very difficult for the governor to veto a bill that will keep guns out of the hands of people who are known to be mentally ill and who are known to be a danger to themselves or others,” she said.</p><p>By mid-week, the emails, phone calls and letters to Scott overwhelmingly opposed the bill. His office had received 17,008 emails in opposition, with one in support and another unclassified. There were 2,711 phone calls in opposition, with 12 in support, and one letter in opposition.</p><p>Most of the messages were blunt.</p><p>“This is just another attack on the honest law-abiding person who may choose to own a firearm,” wrote David Reisner of Lee County.</p><p>Others saw political implications in Scott's decision.</p><p>“Remember, Gov. Scott, you are up for re-election,” wrote Betty and Elmer Henry of Lake County. “The many gun owners in Florida do not agree with this bill and will vote accordingly.”</p><p>The bill was the only gun measure to pass the Legislature during its two-month session following the Newtown, Conn., elementary school massacre last December. Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, cast the only negative vote among the 160 House and Senate members.</p><p>Opposition is being generated by a Colorado-based group called the National Association for Gun Rights, which has been critical of the NRA and Scott before.</p><p>Last year, the group harshly criticized Scott for creating a task force to review Florida's “Stand Your Ground” law after the shooting of Trayvon Martin in Central Florida. The group told its members that Scott was “selling out your rights by convening an anti-gun task force.”</p><p>The task force, headed by form Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, recommended no changes in the law.</p><p>The group did not return a call seeking comment.</p><p>Hammer said National Association for Gun Rights in multiple email “blasts” is spreading false information about the bill.</p><p>“They try to capitalize on the NRA's popularity and they try to discredit and attack us to raise money,” she said.</p><p>Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, and Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, the bill would expand the definition of mentally ill Floridians who would be prohibited from buying a gun or obtaining a concealed weapons permit.</p><p>Existing law limits the restrictions to those detained under the state's Baker Act and then involuntarily committed to mental health facilities for further treatment. The bill expands it to include Floridians detained under the act but who are then voluntarily placed in mental health treatment.</p><p>It would only apply those deemed an “imminent danger” to themselves or others, with the right to legally challenge the determination.</p><p>Proponents, including law enforcement and mental health advocates, as well as the NRA, say the measure is critical because most Floridians detained under the Baker Act end up in voluntary programs, evading the current restriction against gun purchases.</p><p>It would also place those mentally ill Floridians deemed a threat to others in a federal database — the National Instant Criminal Background Check System — that can be accessed by firearms dealers.</p><p>Hammer said the legislation was written by a coalition of groups, including Judge Steven Leifman, head of the Florida Supreme Court's Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues, and law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.</p><p>“We worked with pretty much everybody,” she said.</p><p>Hammer's message to her Florida supporters this week said “false information is being circulated about HB 1355 by people who don't have a clue what the bill actually does or why it is needed.”</p><p>“Gun owners are being deceived by reckless people who are sending out email blasts attacking the bill as being anti-Second Amendment,” she wrote.</p>